One aspect of my new 2012 E-350 XL that's absolutely driving me up a wall is the steering wheel controls - because I chose to add SYNC and Navigation.

It's terrific to have the same infotainment system in all of my cars, but I'm disappointed in the way many of the E-Series navigation system is hobbled. For example, it doesn't even offer an external temperature reading.

But worst of all, despite having the Voice and Phone button for SYNC, the wheel doesn't have volume or station seek controls. I'm angry as hell that Ford would half-*** the implementation of such an expensive feature option.

One conceptual work-around I'm considering is to try to swap the steering wheel from a vehicle that DOES offer the full spate of control support - like an F-Series. The wiring is not so complex that a competent technician shouldn't be able to rig-up a bespoke harness - if a standard format doesn't exist.

Has anybody tried the same? Can anybody offer any potential advice, warnings, suggestions or pitfalls?

Many thanks.

 

I'm interested in this, too. Steering wheel in my 2012 Ford E-350 doesn't match the new IP design either. The wheel is the same old "black, half-football" design Ford was using in Econolines since they installed driver side airbags.

 

If you're the competent technician who can do this I'd suggest digging in, doling out the money, time and frustration it'll require implementing the change, report your process and success here if you'd be so kind.

The pitfalls are the latter day controls integrated into the systems frustrating you at the moment is its NOT as simple as imagined. Because so much is software-dependent or relies on other components being present you're fighting a huge up hill battle, trying to redesign and build as system that doesn't exist for your vehicle's factory-built wiring system.

For this reason many go with after market entertainment/navigation systems---they're designed for installation after manufacture.